At this level players are introduced to hitting baseballs with a controlled velocity from a pitching machine.  Players develop their batting, fielding, catching and throwing skills, along with developing baseball position knowledge, strategy and team play awareness.

• For players that are 7, 8 & 9 years old
• Season starts in May and goes to September (games are subject to weather and field conditions)
• Playoffs start from late August, ending on Championship Day Saturday in mid September 
• Games are played on weeknights at Smythe Park
• Allow 2 hours for a typical game (including pre-game warmup)
• Uniforms (jerseys, pants, socks, & caps) will be handed out at the start of the season once team rosters have been set  
• Players will need to supply their own baseball gloves
• Baseball helmets are available for games, but it is recommended that players use their own helmets for health reasons
• Baseball helmets must have chin straps 
• Players should consider wearing athletic cups, especially if they wish to play the Catcher position.  Catchers MUST wear athletic cups  
• Batting gloves and cleats (non-metal only) are allowed but not required 
• York Baseball will supply regulation baseballs, bats, bases, Catcher equipment and pitching machine   
• Don't forget to bring some drinking water
• Teams are coed
• York Baseball is run entirely by a dedicated group of volunteers.  Please consider expressing your interest in coaching or assisting a coach  
• NOTE - Like 9U players, umpires are also learning the game as well.  It is expected that the coaches support our umpires and their calls.  Players are to leave the playing field if they are called out on the bases or strike out.  Heated confrontations with umpires are unnecessary and should be avoided.  Any difficulties with umpires can be brought to the attention of a Convener or the Umpire Coordinator.   

 

9U House League Rules

General

• Distance between bases: 65 feet (19.8 metres)
• Distance from pitching machine to home plate: 44 feet (13.4 metres)
• Game length: 7 innings or 90 minutes.  No new inning will begin after 90 minutes have elapsed
• Teams may field a maximum of 10 players
• Player positions: Catcher, 1st Base, 2nd Base, 3rd Base, Shortstop, Pitcher, Left Fielder, Left Centre Fielder, Right Centre Fielder, Right Fielder
• The Pitcher stands beside the pitching machine or behind the release point of the pitching machine, but never in front of it or ahead of it 
• Pitching Coaches are free to adjust the pitching machine throughout the game as needed
• Any player playing the Catcher position must wear a Catcher's helmet, chest protector and shin guards.  They can use their own baseball glove if they don't want to wear a York Baseball Catcher's glove
• Catchers MUST wear an athletic cup
• Teams must field a minimum of 7 players.  Teams shall borrow players from the opposing team in order to avoid forfeiting a game should they be short players
• No player shall sit on the bench for 2 consecutive innings, unless in case of injury 
• Teams will bat until there are 3 outs, or if they bat through the entire lineup per each inning
• On the last batter, if 3 outs have not been made, the play will not end until the defensive team Catcher has touched home plate in possession of the baseball
• The last inning of a game will be "open" with no limit on the number of runs scored?
• Time will be granted when a fielder has possession of the ball on the infield and runners have stopped advancing
• Winning teams will receive 2 points for each win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss
• In the event that a game becomes unplayable due to the weather, the umpire will make the decision to play, suspend or call off the game
• In the event of thunder and lightning, York Baseball follows Baseball Ontario guidelines with respect to lightning safety. "When thunder roars, go indoors".  Games will be halted, and cannot continue until 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder
• The Home team will use the 3rd base dugout, the Visiting team will use the 1st base dugout    
• The home team is responsible for setting up the field and making sure bases and equipment are put away

Batting

• Batters will receive 5 hittable pitches.  
• If the batter does not swing at a pitch that the umpire deems too high or too low, it will not count as a pitch.  Any pitch the batter swings at and misses, regardless of the pitch location will be called a strike
• A foul ball on the 5^th pitch will result in an out
• Players are not to throw their bats when hitting as this is dangerous.  Each team will receive a warning if the batter throws their bat in a manner deemed dangerous by the umpire.  Subsequent batters who throw their bats and are deemed dangerous throws by the umpire will be called out
• Bunting is not allowed.  A warning will be issued by the umpire per team, and batters will be called out for any further infractions
• There are no dropped 3rd strikes
• There are no Walks
• There is NO base stealing.  Base runners CANNOT leave the bases before the baseball has been hit by the batter.  Teams will receive 1 warning for leaving a base too early.  Any further infractions will be automatic outs
• There are no designated hitters
• If a batter hits the pitching machine or the Pitching Coach, play is declared dead, the batter takes 1st base, and all runners on base advance 1 base
• There is no Infield Fly Rule
• Latecomers are placed at the end of the batting order.  If there is a chronic latecomer, coaches may insert them higher in the batting order to avoid a player always being the last batter.  Inform the opposing team coach of this.
• Any player who has to leave a game early is simply skipped in the batting order without penalty 

Pitching

• A manual pitching machine is used in 9U to pitch to the batters
• Each team will supply their own Pitching Coach (preferably a team coach) to use the pitching machine when it's their turn at bat
• There are no passed balls or wild pitches